Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170 and 170 Music: I've compared
all the specs and features of these 'easy to use' running watches

Date:
Fri, 15 May 2026 12:12:44 +0000

Description:
Not sure which new Garmin to buy? We break down all the differences between the Garmin Forerunner 70 and the Garmin Forerunner 170.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Keen to get started on your running journey? Well, you're in luck. Garmin has dropped three new
contenders for our best Garmin watch list, and they're all affordably priced and brimming with running-focused features.

The Garmin Forerunner 70, 170 and 170 Music officially release on May 15. You might have pre-ordered one already, but if you're still looking, you also might be weighing up which model is right for you. Do you need the Forerunner 170 Music, or can you save money and opt for the cheaper Garmin Forerunner
70? I break down all the differences below, with a brief bit of context to explain how they compare to other Garmin watches in the range. Note that I haven't yet had an opportunity to test the watches myself I've looked at the statistics and feature lists from Garmin's official websites and promotional materials to put together this comparison. Latest Videos From You may like Garmin reveals its Garmin Forerunner 70 and Garmin Forerunner 170 'easy-to-use' running watches Weve tested the best Garmin watches through runs, rides and workouts to show which ones are worth your money. The best running watch for 2026: Watches for every level of runner Garmin Forerunner
70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170: Specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Row
0 - Cell 0

Garmin Forerunner 70

Garmin Forerunner 170

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

Price

$249.99 / 219.99 / AU$399

From $299 / 259.99 / AU$479

From $349.99 / 299.99 / AU$549

Dimensions

42.6x 42.6x 11.9mm

42.6x 42.6x 11.9mm

42.6x 42.6x 11.9mm

Weight

40g

41g

41g

Case/bezel

Fiber-reinforced polymer

Fiber-reinforced polymer

Fiber-reinforced polymer

Display

AMOLED 390 x 390px

AMOLED 390 x 390px

AMOLED 390 x 390px

GPS

GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, SatIQ

L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou

GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo

Battery life

Up to 13 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 16hours

Up to 10 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 14hours

Up to 10 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 14hours (6.5 with music)

Connection

Bluetooth, ANT+

Bluetooth, ANT+

Bluetooth, ANT+

Water resistant

Yes, 5ATM

Yes, 5ATM

Yes, 5ATM Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170: Price The cheapest watch of the three is the Garmin Forerunner 70, replacing the aging Garmin Forerunner 55 as Garmin's entry-level running watch du jour .

As you can see in our table above, it costs $249.99 / 219.99 / AU$399, while the more feature-rich Forerunner 170 (which replaces the older Garmin Forerunner 165) starts at $299 / 259.99 / AU$479. If you want the Music capabilities, you can pay an extra $50 / 40 / AU$70 for the Forerunner 170 Music. Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170: Design The Garmin Forerunner 70 (Image credit: Garmin) All three watches have a similar design language, and there are few physical differences. There's a single gram of difference in weight between the Garmin Forerunner 70 and its 170 siblings, and all three are only available in a 42.6mm screen size.

They all have the same 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, and use the same five-button configuration as many of Garmin's other watches, such as the Garmin Fenix 8 , which makes it easy to operate the watch even while wearing gloves perfect for running in all weathers. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Embossed Forerunner logos adorn the bands for all three models, while all three are available in a variety of colors, including Black, Whitestone and two-tone models. Each has at least one unique color option too the
Forerunner 70, for example, is available in a pale-yellow Citron color.
Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170: Features The Garmin Forerunner 170 (Image credit: Garmin) Here's where it gets interesting. Each watch has the usual suite of heart rate and fitness-tracking features, such as calories burned, sleep tracking, steps counted and 80 sports profiles. They also all have built-in GPS, Glonass and Galileo satellite network connectivity, to
make sure the watch is accurately tracking your runs.

Each one offers Daily Suggested Workouts and personalized training plans via Garmin Coach, the service in the Garmin Connect app. Other training features include advanced metrics perfect for runners such as stride, cadence and elevation, along with Running Power a metric you may not know about. It's a measure of how much power your body's putting out during a run, measured in mechanical watts. What to read next Garmin Forerunner 970 review: Testing Garmin's top-flight running watch over nine months The best cheap running watches for 2026 One of Garmin's best running watches crashes to its lowest-ever price on Amazon

Garmin works out running power using the watch's motion sensors, GPS and barometer. Using heart rate to determine your performance is considered inferior, because it measures your body's response to the run, not the power of the run itself.

All three watches have wellness features galore, such as sleep tracking, nap detection, Training Readiness and Recovery scores to better plan your
training calendar around. Course Planner helps you train at the correct distances, creating routes around your neighborhood, and the Race Predictor feature estimates your time based on a course added to Garmin's database and your historic data. (Image credit: Garmin) There are some differences, but they aren't major. The Forerunner 170 appears to have all the training features of the 70, while adding Garmin Pay and Smart Notifications features. Smart Notifications allows you to reply to texts when you're on the move (on Android phones), manage notifications from apps and emails, and screen calls, while Garmin Pay is a virtual wallet on your wrist, and works in a similar
way to Apple Pay on one of the best Apple Watches .

These appear to be the only differences, aside from the colorways, between those two watches.

The Forerunner 170 Music adds 4GB of internal memory, allowing you to store songs on your wrist. When connected to Bluetooth headphones, you can listen
to music right from your watch, without using your phone as a go-between. Combined with Garmin Pay, this means you can leave your phone at home or in a bag, run while listening to music, and even buy a coffee once you're
finished. Early verdict The Garmin Forerunner 70 is shaping up to be a pretty great training tool, and if you're not looking for a smartwatch to use for notifications and a digital wallet, this is the model for you.

If you are looking for those things, the Garmin Forerunner 170 or 170 Music
is going to be the best choice for you, unless you want to go up in price and opt for a more expensive smartwatch like the Garmin Venu 4 . The best Garmin watches for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best Garmin watches 1. Best overall: Garmin Venu
4 2. Best premium: Garmin Fenix 8 3. Best budget: Garmin Vivoactive 6 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/fitness-trackers/garmin-forerunner-70 -vs-garmin-forerunner-170-and-170-music-ive-compared-all-the-specs-and-feature s-of-these-easy-to-use-running-watches


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)